Biography highlights

Scion of the great Russian conducting tradition, Mikhail Agrest has honed his craft at the Mariinsky Theatre for over a decade, acquiring a considerable body of operatic and symphonic repertoire and gaining crucial insights into orchestra development and artistic leadership.

Recent and upcoming projects include a new production of The Fiery Angel for Scottish Opera, Eugene Onegin for the Finnish National Opera and further projects with Semperoper Dresden, Opernhaus Zurich and Teatro San Carlo di Napoli. On the concert field he returns to the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and debuts with St, Petersburg Philharmonic, Seoul Philharmonic and Bruckner Orchestra Linz amongst others.

During the previous seasons, Mikhail Agrest made his Canadian debut with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and returned to Seattle Symphony, Bremer Philharmoniker and Sudwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz in Germany. His opera projects included La Traviata and Weinberger’s Švanda dudák at Semperoper Dresden and a new production of Eugene Onegin. Mr. Agrest’s appearance at the Metropolitan Opera in 2003 conducting the Mariinsky Theatre in Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh keen interest within the global opera community. He went on to lead a production of Tosca at the Swedish National Opera, Don Giovanni at Opera Australia, as well as the award-winning new production of Jenufa at the English National Opera. His collaboration with the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden so far consisted of three well-received productions: Le Sacre du Printemps,Les Noces, and Romeo and Juliette. His work with the BBC Symphony dates back to 2007 and includes a Gubaidulina Festival at the Barbican as well as a recording of Rodion Shchedrin’s Concerto Parlando. Following the success of a Shostakovich, Prokofiev and Richard Strauss program with Staatskapelle Dresden in 2013, Mr. Agrest was invited to lead a new production of Shostakovich’s Moscow-Cheryomushki, directed by Christiane Mielitz.

Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Mr. Agrest immigrated to the United States with his family as a teenager and received a degree in violin performance.

Finnish National Opera - Tchaikovsky - Eugene Onegin

“Mikhail Agrest’s direction of the orchestra was pure poetry and emotion. Affection, hope, intellect, and beauty – every element was cherished like a petal of a flower. He led the orchestra through the musical narrative, like a good shepherd.”

"It was a performance, so rare in our days, that showed integrity and unity of the musical and theatrical incarnations. In many respects this is due to the intelligent manner of the conductor,
music in the blood. A former student of Mariss Jansons, he led the orchestra, bringing out inner details and nuances , and musicians obediently trusted each of his maningful gestures "

- Vladimir Dudin, Nezavisimaya Gazeta

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

"Always meaningful and always generating a coaxing romantic line and intensity... I Was also impressed with how patient [Mr. Agrest] was in establishing soft atmospheric textures with suspension and feeling, a trouble spot for many young conductors."